(L-R) Cllr Adrian Schulman, Durham County Council’s deputy armed forces champion; Cllr Robbie Rodiss, Chair of Durham County Council; Cllr Dawn Bellingham, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for communities and civic resilience; Commander Ian Berry MBE, Deputy Lieutenant for County Durham; and Cllr Robert Potts, Durham County Council’s armed forces champion.
The North East’s largest local authority has shown its continued commitment to the Armed Forces during a national campaign.
Durham County Council held a commemorative event at The Story, in Durham, to mark Armed Forces Week (22 to 28 June).
The event was hosted by Cllr Robbie Rodiss, Chairman of Durham County Council, Cllr Dawn Bellingham, Cabinet member for communities and civic resilience, and the council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Robert Potts, and guests were given a tour of The Story’s exhibition spaces. This included its new temporary exhibition, A Debt Beyond Words.
Deputy Lieutenant for County Durham, Commander Ian Berry MBE, council employees including veterans, reservists and adult cadet force volunteers gathered for the event at the cultural and heritage venue.
Invitees had the chance to see the Wakenshaw Gun, which has a permanent home in the building in honour of Pte Adam Herbert Wakenshaw, who served in the Durham Light Infantry.
Cllr Rodiss said: “As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, we take our duty seriously when it comes to ensuring the armed forces community face no disadvantage and are recognised for their service and the sacrifices they have made.
“Armed Forces Day supports the people who make up the Armed Forces community, which includes veterans, cadets and families as well as currently serving troops.
“We use this week as a chance to celebrate and acknowledge those in the Armed Forces. However, it is important that the honour and respect shown this week continues beyond an awareness campaign and is incorporated into our daily service provision.”
Armed Forces Week also includes Reserves Day on Wednesday 24 June and Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June.
The Story will be lit up from Friday 26 June, ahead of Armed Forces Day.
The council is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a national pledge to treat those who serve, or have served, and their families fairly. It is also a Gold Level award holder of the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which recognises employers who demonstrate positive attitudes and policies towards veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces.
The council has a guaranteed interview scheme for veterans who they meet essential criteria for an advertised post.
It also has an Armed Forces Network for its staff, providing a supportive and welcoming environment to employees who are members of the armed forces community, including veterans, reservists and their families.
It employs Armed Forces Outreach workers who offer a first point of contact for veterans, or those leaving the armed forces and their families. They can offer support with housing, benefits and debt advice, employment and training or health and social welfare.
The council also chairs the Armed Forces Forum, which brings together a wide range of organisations that support the Armed Forces community to coordinate local support.
More information about support for the armed forces, veterans and their families is available at www.durham.gov.uk/armedforces.
